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Job 2-3 – Praying through the Bible #159 – A Prayer Asking Why
Waking up with something physically wrong with my right eye, I thought it was a stye. Hourly, my face’s right side deteriorated. Only 20 years old, I called home panicking and frightened. The entire right side of my face was becoming paralyzed. While traumatic, it was compounded by the fact I was considering becoming a preacher. How can I speak as God’s servant when I can’t even keep food from dribbling out of my mouth? One night I walked out, away from everyone, distraught. Looking up praying…suddenly I slapped my face as hard as I could. Whether just frustrated or mad at God, I don’t know. I was too confused. I do know many have suffered similar puzzling and perplexing emotions. One of whom is Job.
This is the second time Satan touches Job’s life. This test Satan thinks is worse than even losing children: (4) “Skin for skin!” Satan answered the LORD. “A man will give up everything he owns in exchange for his life” (Job 2.4). It’s frightening anything could be considered worse than a child’s death.
Job’s disease is uncertain but symptoms include boils from his head to his toes (2.7); appetite loss (3.24); and constant unease (3.26). Partial relief comes from lancing the boils with pottery shards (2.8). While Satan had taken Job’s children as a test, apparently as a test he leaves Job’s wife: “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!” (2.9). Job’ wife is the first to doubt his integrity (2.9). By saying this, she is blaming him for the loss of her children. It is beyond sad knowing Satan can use family as his servant. So far, “throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said” (2.10). The question for the rest of this book is, “While Job’s sin did not cause his suffering, will Job’s suffering cause him to sin?”
Job had good friends, or at least well intentioned. From a distance, Job is barely recognizable (2.12). After arriving, for seven straight days and nights all sit in silence (2.13). Finally the pall of silence is broken by Job. His words to his friends will turn into a prayer to God. He begins cursing his birth day (3.1). Job wished to be a miscarriage (3.16). Then Job’s words get precarious. Job’s words go beyond describing his physical predicament. Job’s words go beyond asking why suffering exists, as in, “why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter” (3.20). Job’s words get dangerously close to blasphemy: “Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in?” (3.23). Before the first test, Satan claims God had built a hedge of protection around Job (1.10). After this second test Job now claims God had built a hedge of destruction around him. Job is mad at God. Job is saying he can’t escape his troubles; and its God’s fault!
Prayer Challenge: Pray about troubles. Pray asking why. But never blame God as being against us. We must accept that just like with Job, more is going on than we know.
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